How to set up additional punches in the Schedules?

Hi!

Normally, work schedules have four punches per day (Clock in, start break, end break, and Clock out).

However, in some cases, there may be a need for additional punches to be recorded, in order to account for extra work periods or additional exits (not including the standard intraday break) during the workday.

These additional punches must be configured in the employee’s Schedule to ensure that all calculation rules are applied correctly, without impacting payroll closing later.

1- Additional punches must be created as Flexible Breaks within the employee’s Schedule.
Therefore, the first step is to create this punch category as a Custom Break. Follow the steps in this article to create it and save the break with a name that is easily recognizable by employees (e.g. Additional punch, Additional break, etc.).

Pay attention to the options Set as working hours and Do not calculate missing hours for this type of break, as depending on the selection, it will impact the calculation of worked hours. Select according to the purpose of the punch.

2- Within the Schedule, add the custom break to the Flexible category on the days when these additional punches may occur.
In Number of breaks, enter how many times these punches can happen on the same day (remembering that 1 break includes a start and end, so enter a number greater than 1 if this can occur multiple times in the day).

Since these are flexible breaks, they will not be mandatory (like the standard lunch break) and will not be part of the estimated schedule calculation.

3- The created punches will appear for employees assigned to the Schedule, following the same logic as breaks.

In the app, use the Punch option to access the records. The next screen displays a map with your location, the current time, and the type of punch (Entry, Break Start, Break Return, Exit, etc.).

Tap on the displayed classification; a list will open. Click on "Start anytime" to open the flexible options and select the Start or End of the additional break, according to the execution order.

4- To monitor additional punches, access the employees’ Super Punch. The punches will be within the Breaks category. Select the cell with the number of breaks, and the punches will be displayed within the corresponding break category.

The punches are also displayed in the time reports.

Important: The punch categories are essential for calculations to occur correctly. Therefore, when using additional punches, it is essential that they are recorded in their proper categories.

As mentioned at the beginning of the article, some scenarios in which additional punches are used may occur either during or after the estimated workday.

In this second scenario, if the employee has already recorded their Clock out punch and needs to return to work on the same day as extra work, that last punch must be adjusted to an Additional break start.

Then, an Additional break end punch is recorded to start counting the extra work, followed by Clock out to end the day.

The visualization of this scenario will look like this:

If the additional punch occurs during the work period, simply follow the punch order, using the additional break when the punch happens.

The visualization of this scenario will look like this:

How to add these additional breaks as an exception?

When additional punches are needed only on a specific day or period, you do not need to change the employee’s main Schedule. In this case, create a Schedule Exception for the required dates and configure the additional break within the exception.

Before starting, make sure the Custom Break that will be used for the additional punches has already been created, as explained earlier in this article.

To configure it:

1. Go to Schedules > Exceptions;
2. Click Create exception;
3. Enter a name to identify the exception;
4. Select the employee or employees;
5. Define the day or period when the additional punches will be available;
6. Configure the Schedule Exception according to what should apply on that day;
7. Click + Add break;
8. Select the Custom Break created for this purpose, such as Additional Punch or Additional Break;
9. Configure the break as Flexible;
10. Define the number of additional breaks that may occur during the day, considering that each break has a start and an end;
11. Review the other hours and breaks configured in the Schedule Exception;
12. Click Save.

Important: the Schedule Exception replaces the employee’s original Schedule on the selected dates. Therefore, in addition to the additional break, make sure all other hours and breaks that should apply on that day are configured correctly.

In the app, the process follows the same logic as additional punches configured directly in the Schedule: when punching, the employee must open the punch type selection, click Start at any time to display the flexible options, and select the Start or End of the additional break according to the order in which it occurs.

This configuration is recommended when the additional punch is needed only occasionally, as it allows you to adjust only the required dates without changing the employee’s main Schedule.

This update allows more control over additional punches, as they are within the Breaks category, making them easier to view in Super Punch and reports.

It also ensures the correct calculation of additional hours, since schedule tolerances and limits will be properly applied to clock in and clock out, leaving these additional punches flexible for exceptions.